Loom harness



Aug. 14, 1945.

J. J. KAUFMANN Loom HARNESS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan. 21, 1944 Aug. 14, 1945.

J. J. KAUFMANN LOOM HARNESS Filed Jan. 21, 1944 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 flwerdor filial-my Z flu 0 V 2 a r mm 7 E m u W v ITI w ,m a w m g Patented Aug. 14, 1945 LOOM HARNESS John Jacob Kaufmann, Elkins Park, Pa., assignor to Steel Heddle Manufacturing Company, Philadelphia, Pa., a corporation of Pennsyl- Vania Application January 21, 1944, Serial No. 519,102

Claims.

This invention relates to the loom harness, and it relates more particularly to the construction and arrangement of the heddles used in such harness for the purpose of separating the warp threads, to form successive sheds through which the shuttle is passed to eifect the weaving operation.

The invention relates more particularly to that type of heddles for loom harness which are made from thin flat metal strips, and which are now almost universally used for weaving textile fabrics.

. The principal object of the present invention is to provide heddles made of thin flat strips of metal, such as steel, of such construction and arrangement that the same will have a certain desired degree of resiliency in a vertical orlongitudinal direction, whereby there will [be an easing of the shock when reversals of movement of the harness frames takes place during the shedding operations.

A further object of the invention is to provide heddles of the character aforesaid in which the heddles will be flexible longitudinally whereby there will be less tendency to break such of the warp threads as are tighter than the main body of the warp.-

, It is understood that hereto-fore attempts have been made in various ways to provide heddles hav ing a certain amount of flexibility, but none of the structures or devices for this purpose heretofore suggested have proved to be practical, and particularly the same are not adaptable for use in connection with the high speed looms at present in common use.

With the foregoing objects in view, the invenrtion contemplates the provision of heddles made of thin flat met-a1, provided at their central portions with the usual warp controlling eyes, at their ends with mortises for mounting the same on the heddle rods of the frames, and provided with means above or below the shed lines for imparting flexibility longitudinally to the individual heddles, said means comprising the bending of a portion of the metal out of the main plane of the body portion of the heddle, reducing the crosssectional area. of the bent out portions, and providing the heddles, if desired, with spacing devices either for use in connection with drawing-in machines or to insure freedom of movement of the warp when the shedding takes place.

The nature and characteristic features of the invention will be more readily understood from with the accompanying drawings, forming part hereof, in which:

Fig. l is a front elevation of a group of heddles embodying the main features of the present invention, portions of the heddle rods on which they are mounted also being shown;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation thereof, the heddle rods being shown in section;

3 is a view similar to Fig. '2, but illustrating a modified form of heddle;

Figs. 4 and 5 are views similar to Figs. 1 and 2, respectively, illustrating another modified form;

Figs. 6 and 7 are views similar toFigs. 1 and 2, respectively, illustrating another modified form;

Figs. 8 and 9 are views similar to Figs. 1 and 2, respectively, illustrating anothermodified form; and

Figs. 10 and 11 are views similar to Figs. 1 and 2, respectively, illustrating another modified form.

Referring now more particularly to Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings, the heddles 20 there shown are in the main of a commonand well known type, commonly used in the weaving of textile fabrics, the same preferably being made of thin fiat strips of steel wire each provided at its respective central portion with the usual warp controlling eye 2|. At each end of each heddle 20 there is also provided a mortise 22 for mounting the heddles on the heddle rods 23 which are suitably supported in the heddle frames (not shown). The method of formation of the warp ey-es 2| and mortises 22 is preferably that which is Well known and commonly practiced in the industry.

In the form of the invention shown in Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings there is provided, adjacent the upper heddle supporting rod 23, on each heddle 20, a portion 24, bent in reverse curvature in a form or shape somewhat similar to an elongated 8, parts of which are definitely disposed outside the plane of the main or body portion of the heddle 20. At the place where the bent out portion 24 is provided, the heddle 20 may be left [the full width of the strip as shown in Fig. 3, but preferably the same is cut away at the sides, as at 25, thereby to provide a reduced area of cross-section in the bent portion, and thus providing greater flexibility when strain is imparted to the heddle in a longitudinal direction.

- In the form of the invention shown in Figs. 4 and 5 of the drawings each of the heddles 20 is provided with bent out portions 24 at both the top and bottom, in each instance, however, being located at a point where the same is disposed bethe following description taken in connection 56 yond the plane of the sheet of warp when the In Figs. 8 and 9 of the drawings there is shown another form of the invention somewhat similar to that shown in Figs. 6 and '7-.-' In this case, -however, the bent out portions flaare provided at both the top and bottom of the'hed'dIes'ZO', in each instance, however, being beyond the plane of the sheet of warp when the shed is formed- In Figs. 10 and 11 of the drawings there is shown still another modified form of theinvention in which the heddle 20 is bent at the desired locatiornas at 241), out of the plane of the main body portion of theheddle 20, continuingin a straight inclined 'direction'for'the desired [distance, and then being bent back to cause the end portions to be disposed parallel .to' that? of the plane of the main bodypofrtion. Here again there is provided a reduction'jn cross-sectional area at the bent portion byisibttingthe stripesat 26, and the bends arejprovided preferably at the' top the shed line and having portions bent out of the and bottom of eachlie'ddle.

If desired, anyof'the various forms'mayv be provided with suitable spacing projections 21 which may'beformed, for example, as described and shown in my previous Letters Patent No. 1,970,175, which will serve not only to assist in the manipulation of the heddle when the entering is done by means of a warp drawing-in machine, but will alsoinsure greater freedom of movement of the warp as the she'dding'takesplace in the operation ofthe loom the plane of the main body portion of the heddle to provide longitudinal flexibility, said bent out portions being disposed between said straight portions and the end mortisesand being cut away to provide a reduced cross-section of said bent out portions.

2. In a loom harness, a plurality of heddles for controlling the warp ends, rods i'or supporting said heddles, each of said heddles being made of a 'thin fiat metal strip having a central warp eye and having mortises at each end for mounting said heddles on said rods, each of said heddles also having a straight portion extending above 7 and below the central warp eye to a point beyond the shed line and having portions bent out of the plane of the main'body portion of the heddle to provide longitudinal flexibility, said bent out portions being disposed between said straight portions and the end mortises, and certain of the heddles It will of course. beap'parent that the bent out portion of the heddles in a particular frame will be disposed at the same longitudinal locations, so that saidbent'out portions will readily nest with respect to each other.

By the construction and" arrangement inaccordance with the present inventibnthere isprovided an improved type of, heddle which. will not only serve to relieve the strain when the shed is formed, but will! also operate effectivelyto relieve the shocks caused, by. the inertia of the heddle masses when the reversal or movement takes place as'the heddle frames are raised and lowered -in;the,

operation. of theloom. Heddles of this type will also serve to relieve individually the tension of unduly tight Warp ends, andthus minimize breakage of the same and the. consequent stoppages of the loom forthe purpose o'ftying up broken ends.

1. In a loom harness, a plurality of heddles for controllingv the warp ends, rods for supporting said heddles, each of said heddlesbeingtmadeof a thin fiat metal strip having a central warp eye and having mortises at each end for mounting said heddleson'said rods, each of said heddles also having a, straight portionextending above and below the central warp eye toa point beyond the shed line, and having portions bent out of projections adjacent said bent out plane of the main body portion of the heddle to provide longitudinal flexibility, said bent out portions beingdisposed between said straight portions and the end mortises and being cut away to provide a reduced cross-section of said bent out portions, and certain of the heddles having spacing projections adjacent said bent out portions.

4. In a loom harness, a plurality of heddle for J controlling the warp ends, rods for supporting said heddles, each ofsaid heddles being made of a thin flat metalstrip having a central warp eye and having mortises at each end for mounting said heddles on saidrods, each of said heddles also having a straight portion extending above and below the central warp v eye to. a point beyond the shed line and having portions bent out of the plane of themain body portion of the heddle to provide longitudinal flexibility, said bent out portions being disposed between said straight portions and the-end mortises and being slotted to provide a reduced cross-section of said bent out portions. p I i 5. In a loom harness, a plurality of heddles for controlling the warp ends, rods 'for supporting said heddles, each of said heddles being made of a thin flat metal strip having a central warp eye and having'm'ortises at each end. for mounting said heddleson said rods, each of said heddles also having a'straight portion extending above and below the central warp eye and having portions bent out of the-plane, of the main body portion of the heddle to provide longitudinal flexibility, said bent out portions: being disposed between said straight portions and the end mortises and being cut away toprovide a reduced crosssectionofsaid bent out portions.

JOHN JACOB KAUFMANN. 

